Car-coupling.



PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

Wi Al- UAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED 10V- 15,1906- y/ lF/ I wi/tmooeo I WILLIAM A. ENGEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed November 15, 1906. Serial No. 343,596.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. ENG EL, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to car couplers, and more particularly to couplers of the Janney type, and has for its object to improve the construction and increase the utility and efiiciency of devices of this character.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference characters, is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a coupler structure in accordance with the invention and showing the knuckle portion in locked position; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the knuckle in unlocked position, but still in coupled position; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the knuckle in uncoupled position, and with the operating rod bearing upon the same in operative position; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the operating rod detached; Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the knuckle detached; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the locking dog detached.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the hollow head portion is represented at 10, the knuckle at 11 pivoted at 12 in the head. The knuckle is provided with a right-angled inwardly projecting arm 13, in the inner end of which a recess 14 is formed, the upper wall of the recess being curved or inclined downwardly as at 15. The inner end of the arm 13 is also provided with a laterally projecting lug 16, the under side of the lug forming a continuation of the inclined wall 15 of the recess 14. An opening 17 is formed in the head 10 into which the lug 16 is adapted to project when the knuckle is in closed or coupled position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A shaft 18 is mounted for rotation horizontally through the head 10 in the rear of the knuckle, and is also movable longitudinally therein. One end of the shaft is extended toward the side of the car and terminates in a handle 19, in convenient position for the operator to enable him to actuate the coupler without getting between the cars. The intermediate portion of the shaft near its inner end is formed angular in cross section, preferably square, as shown at 18 in Fig. 4. Mounted upon the shaft 18 within the hollow bed is a locking dog consisting of a knuckle engaging portion 20 which when the knuckle is in closed or locked position is adapted to drop by gravity between the arm 13 and the adjacent inner wall of the coupler head, thereby locking or holding the knuckle in closed position. The. dog is provided with an angular perforation 20 through which projects the angular portion 18 of the shaft 18, and by means of which the dog is held against rotation except with the shaft, yet permitting the shaft to be moved longitudinally relatively to the dog. On the inner end of the dog is formed a laterally projecting lug 21 provided on its end side with a downwardly inclined projection .22, the latter having an inclined forward edge 23 adapted to be engaged by the inclined lower wall 15 of the recess 14 and the inner end of the arm 13. The shaft 18 is also provided with a lateral lug 24 adapted to engage the lug 16 when the shaft is turned to release the locking dog from the knuckle-arm 13 and the knuckle is in open or uncoupled position, as shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desired to uncouple the cars, the shaft 18 is turned by means of the handle 19, which projects beyond the side of the car to elevate the'locking dog into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby. unlocking the knuckle 11 and bringing the shaft lug 24 above the knuckle lug 16. The shaft 18 is rotated to actuate the dog to cause the release of the knuckle and it is moved endwise inwardly causing the lateral lug 24 to bear on the lug 16 in its inward movement and force open the knuckle 11, and hold it open to prevent the knuckle from jarring into a locked position, as shown in Fig. 3, while the car to which the coupler is attached is being moved or switched.

By the use of this simple device, the operator can couple and uncouple the cars without going between them and without handling the knuckle, and the knuckles cannot be jarred into coupled position.

The device is simple in construction, can be readily applied and operated, and will effectually prevent accidental displacement of the knuckle when the same is in uncoupled position, while at the same time not affecting the ordinary operation of the coupling and uncoupling mechanism.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is2- In a car coupling, a hollow draw head, one side of which is provided with an opening, a knuckle,'pivotally mounted in the head with its rear end provided with 2. lug which is adapted to enter the forward end of said opening when the knuckle is closed, a shaft rotatably and longitudinally movably mounted in the rear portion of said opening, the outer end of the shaft being provided with a handle and the intermediate portion near its inner end being angular in-cross section, a laterally extending lug on the shaft in position for engaging with the lug, on the knuckle and entering the opening in the head to open the knuckle, and a dog within the head provided with an angular perforation for the shaft and with a projection adapted to be engaged by the rear end of the knuckle.

In'testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. ENGEL.

Witnesses:

BLANCI-IE McCoy, Manon V. MCCOY. 

